Decosse won silver in the 63 kg class in Beijing four years ago and has since taken two World titles in the 70 kg class, and was the clear favourite against Thiele, whose greatest achievement to date was a European silver medal in 2009.

Colombia’s Yuri Alvear and Dutch judoka Edith Bosch won the bronze medals after both coming through the repechage.

Alvear took bronze by waza-ari against China’s Fei Chen, while Bosch won her medal on a referee’s decision after finishing level with South Korea’s Ye-Sul Hwang on one yuko each.

For Bosch, it was her second Olympic bronze in two Games after she received the same prize in Beijing four years ago.